It's one thing to go green. It's another thing to stay green.
That's the reasoning behind the UB's creation of the new Chief of Sustainability Officer position – a role created to give leadership and direction to sustainability initiatives as UB plans to implement new environmental objectives.
"We haven't provided senior-level leadership to the effort in the past," said Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs. "We've supported [green initiatives], but we haven't come out and said that we're committed to the effort, and that we're going to provide university-level leadership."
Ryan A. McPherson, who previously worked as vice president for government and community relations at UB, was chosen for the job. McPherson officially assumed his new title on Sept. 9.
"The main role is to provide leadership and coordination to sustainability efforts," McPherson said. "I will be working to provide a university-wide approach to environmental efforts, and bring groups like UB Green, and the Student Association's environmental department together."
McPherson's passion for the environment was borne of the time he spent outdoors as a child in his home state of New Hampshire; he has spent much of his career working to advance environmental causes.
In Nov. 2007, McPherson partnered with Robert G. Shibley, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, to create the Environmental Stewardship Committee, which directs many of UB's environmental efforts. The committee created, submitted, and began implementation of the Climate Action Plan, which aims to make the university carbon-neutral by the year 2030.
Shibley is very enthusiastic about the new position and believes McPherson is the right person for the job.
"There is now a long-standing commitment to sustainability," Shibley said. "Working with the Environmental Stewardship Committee will allow us to drive the agenda forward.
Shibley cited McPherson's passion for environmental works and past experience in the field as reasons why he is suited for the role. He also believes that McPherson's strong communication abilities will work in his favor.
"Ryan is someone who has given energy and effort towards advancing the mission of environmentalism and engaging the broad community," Shibley said. "He's a communicator and he will be able to structure efforts across the campus."
Additionally, Shibley believes that McPherson's desire for change will help him develop his role in the university.
"[McPherson] understands that the culture has to change," Shibley said. "He can change the way UB thinks about consumption and [the importance of] recycling. He can make people at UB realize the degree to which [human] behavior creates a lack of sustainability, and help create better solutions."
UB officials are currently constructing and renovating new buildings and facilities designed to meet new eco-friendly standards; examples include the completely eco-friendly William R. Greiner Hall and the new 3,200-panel solar strand under construction at the Flint entrance to North Campus. The panels should be operational by the end of the year.
The university hopes that McPherson will continue and strengthen the sustainability efforts in years to come.
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